GHNS Illinois Budget (4/23/08)

Wednesday

Apr 23, 2008 at 12:01 AMApr 23, 2008 at 10:19 PM

GHNS Illinois Budget (4/23/08)

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at www.gatehousenewsservice.com. Please check www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.

If your paper has a story, digest item, opinion piece or standalone photo to share, please e-mail it to Illinois@gatehousemedia.com.

Writing coach: Read Casey Laughman’s writing coach blog at http://www.ghnewsroom.com/blogs.php?aid=16. Updated every Monday afternoon. This week’s topic: What to do when the big story turns out to be not so big after all.

TODAY’S SPOTLIGHT

Sheriff hopes ‘million-dollar courthouse’ can be restored

CARLINVILLE – When Macoupin County Sheriff Don Albrecht isn’t dealing with law enforcement, he’s tending to another aspect of his job: the upkeep of the Macoupin County Courthouse. By Debra Landis of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1041578065

STATE BRIEFS: News from around the state. Will be posted this evening.

MEDICAID WOES: A health-care advocacy group says cuts by the Bush Administration to Medicaid will cause an economic fallout to ripple throughout the state. A reduction in federal dollars, an estimated $487.7 million during the first year and $2.5 billion over the next five years, translate to fewer dollars circulating in Illinois' economy, hurting both businesses and people. By Frank Radosevich of the Peoria Journal Star.

PRAYER BREAKFAST-BLAGOJEVICH: At the annual prayer breakfast in Springfield, Gov. Rod Blagojevich arrived late, spoke briefly about legislative peace, and left immediately, saying he was going to the Executive Mansion and implying he had a meeting to get to there. But his spokespeople say he actually went directly to the airport to return to Chicago, where he was to meet with Senate President Emil Jones. Blagojevich did not make himself available for questions on the Tony Rezko trial. By Meagan Sexton of the State Capitol bureau.

WITH:

PRAYER BREAKFAST-DRISCOLL: The featured speaker at the breakfast was Jean Driscoll, eight-time winner of the Boston Marathon. By Meagan Sexton of the State Capitol bureau.

ROCKFORD – The first person kids see when they arrive at Circles of Learning preschool and day care is Cheryl Keller. Keller is the day care center’s administrative assistant, a job once known as secretary that now encompasses dozens of office functions in every workplace. By Nate Legue of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x317100120

Transportation summit attendees list U.S. 20, Amtrak among top priorities

FREEPORT – Tri-State Travel’s buses regularly take tourists between its base in Galena and Chicago. Every time, they use U.S. 20. “I had a driver tell me the other day, ‘Well, if it gets too bumpy or too noisy, we just turn up the music so people don’t hear it,’ ” said Dave Lange, the company’s president. “It’s time people did something about it.” By Thomas V. Bona of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1041577925

Cargill/Pillsbury plant sold

SPRINGFIELD – The old Cargill/Pillsbury plant on Springfield’s north end has been sold to Jim Ley, the owner of Ley Metals Recycling Inc., according to city officials. By Chris Wetterich of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1838788173

Students honor friends’ memories with garden

PEORIA – Surely it was a sign from her friends in heaven. Just hours before Manual High School sophomore Brittany Gayton was set to honor her dead friends at an outside memorial service Tuesday, rain clouds cluttered the sky. But by the time the service started in Manual’s courtyard, it was if the sky had been painted blue. By Brian Feldt of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1498101114

Feeling pinched at the pump? You are not alone

PEORIA – Think the endlessly escalating cost of a gallon of gasoline isn’t having a profound effect on the everyday lives and everyday psyches of everyday Americans? Spend some time talking to people as they pump liquid gold into their cars, vans, trucks and SUVs on the day of another seemingly unexplainable gas hike. By Scott Hilyard of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1699208013

Cat releases proxy statement

PEORIA – Caterpillar Inc. Chairman Jim Owens received total compensation of $17.1 million in 2007, an increase of 15.4 percent from 2006, according to the company’s proxy statement filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission. By Paul Gordon of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1699207887

BRITT: Obama and bowling. The headpin just won’t fall. Will be posted this evening.

Wally Haas: Gambling won't fix Illinois' problems

The calendar says it’s April 20, but it feels like “Groundhog Day” and I’m either Bill Murray or one of the other characters caught in a time warp.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x317099776

Chuck Sweeny: Blagojevich no friend to 4-H

While Gov. Rod Blagojevich pumps out meaningless news releases about the earth tremor that did no damage, he's destroying state government, dismantling one department after another to get money for his loopy schemes.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1498101560

Elizabeth Davies: Moms develop strange vocabularies, germ worries

Until recently, I never thought I would have a reason to say, “Toilet brushes are not for sucking.”
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/opinions/x1041576688

Editorial: Glad it’s over in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania presidential primary is over, not a merciful moment too soon for a contest that has highlighted all that’s wrong with American politics — the mind-boggling length of the election season, the almost criminal spending, the IQ-sapping focus on the trivial and just the general nastiness. An editorial from the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x1041577640

ILLINOIS FEATURES
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/news

Review: Underwood almost steals show from Urban

Keith Urban and Carrie Underwood brought their "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Carnival Ride" tour to the Civic Center on Tuesday night and as the "Idol" winner tore through her set, it seemed as though the "all-American girl" would steal the show. By Danielle Hatch of the Peoria Journal Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/x501034364

SPRINGFIELD – A retired Lanphier High School math teacher recently was given a moment in the spotlight by one of her former students, Philadelphia 76ers forward Andre Iguodala, who praised her in the April 21 issue of Sports Illustrated. By Pete Sherman of the State Journal-Register.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x1838788140

Bears dealing with current players first

LAKE FOREST – Gimme. Gimme. Gimme. Gimme. That’s what Chicago Bears General Manager Jerry Angelo is putting up with these days leading up to this weekend’s NFL Draft. While he’s wondering what new players he’ll have to deal with by the end of the weekend, considerable focus remains on remaining players. By Reed Schreck of the Rockford Register Star.
http://www.gatehousenewsservice.com/regional_news/midwest/illinois/sports/x292019453

Community Info

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Lake News Online ~ 918 N. Business Route 5, Camdenton, MO 65020 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service